Typewriter keyboard



April 30, l935 R. U. JENNINGS 1,999,877

TYPEWRITER KEYBOARD Filed May 1, 1954 INVENTof I Rixford UJnnirzgs ATTORNEY wenn @35,1935 y o 1,999,811

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE TYPEWRITEB KEYBOARD Rixford U. Jennings, Bualo, N.. Y. Applition-May 1, 1934, Serial N0. 723,291 1 claim. (c1. v19t- 98) This invention relates to a typewriter keyboard," In order to substantially illl the keyboard openand has for its object to provide a construction ing in the frame, `the keys are preferably rec'- n which the keys are so constructed and arranged tangular in shape, each key abutting the adjacent as to afford a. practically closed case for' the key and being located in juxtarelationthereto 5 interior mechanism and prevent access of partiwith only enough spacing between the keys to cles of dust and dirt to the operating parts bepermit the necessary freedom of movement. neath the keyboard. The outer keys in the top, bottom and side In the conventional typewriter, the keys are rows are located in juxtarelation to the adjacent o spaced considerably from each other both versurfaceof the frame and are also preferably dis- V tlcally and horizontally, and it is a more parposed'with the top surfaces of the keys normally l0 ticular purpose of the invention to locate the keys in alinement with or inthe same plane with the close to one another in both vertical and horiadjacent top surface of theframejhe stepped zontal planes, and in this 'fashion to close the portions 2 of .which correspond tothe stepped gaps between the keys, at the same time without arrangement of the keys. -The inner keys are arinterfering with the proper operation of the ranged in juxtarelation to the surrounding keys 15 machine. so that eachl row of keys forms a substantially To these and other ends, the invention conunbroken and continuous surface with the cor'- sists in the construction and arrangement of responding stepped portion 2 of the frame. parts that will appear from the following de- V 'I'he keys 5 are arranged in stepped relation, as scription when read in conjunction with the acshown in Fig. 2, and are so disposed that those 20 companying drawing, the novel features beingf of one row overlap somewhat in a vertical plane pointed out in the claim following the speci- -the keys of the adiacent row, so that the keys cation. l by their relative position to one another aiord a, In the drawing: substantially closed case both in horizontal and g5 Fig. 1 is a partial plan view of a typewriter vertical planes, and eliminate, to a large degree, g5 frame and keyboard embodying a preferred emthe possibility of dust or dirt getting into the bodiment of the invention; mechanism beneath the keys.

Fig. v2 is a vertical sectional view, and I0 designates the usual spacing bar which is Fig. 3 is apartial front elevation of the frame located in an opening afforded in a guard; plate 3u and keyboard, one key being. inustreted in de- Il, the latter being permanentlvecured to thel so pressed or operating position. front of the frame 4*, flush with the top surface Referring more particularly to the drawing in thereof, and constituting a part of. the frame 4 which like reference characters refer to the same endlling the Spee between the fI'Ont portion 4 parts throughout the several views, I designates and the IOWeImOSt bank 0f keys.

a frame preferably havingsteppedf portions z While the ,inventionhas been described with, 35

corresponding to the several banks or rows of reference to a particular embodiment. it is not keys and an opening between the vertical wall coniined to the precise arrangement herein dis- 3, the front walll, and the end portions of the elOSed, and thisapplieatien iS intended t0 Cover frame, in which the keys ,5 are located. any modications or departures coming within 40 Each key 5 `is conneotecrfthrough a. key bar s the purposes of the improvement 0r the Scope 0f 4o to control a cam unit 1 carrying a cam 8 which is 'the -f01l0Wing 0181mi adapted to be positioned, when the key is de- Iclaim: Y pressed, in operative relation to a power roller 9 The combination with a typewriter frame havwhich is rotated continuously by an electric motor ing a key-receiving Opening and stepped portions or other suitable source of power. The power at,the sides of said opening. olf-a sexies of rec- 45 roller operates; when the cam 8 is Set, to actuate tngulrly Shaped keys `IMlnIYlged therein in the type bar 9 through a type bar mechanism stepped rows alined with said stepped portions Qsuch as shown in the art and illustrated for in-V of the frame, the outerv keys being disposed in stance inPatent No. 1,934,338, dated November 7, juxt'arelation to and normally lying flush with 5o 1933 A adjacent portions of the frame, leach of the re- 50 The invention is particularly applicable to arrv mainlng keys being disposed -in juxtarelation to velectrically operated typewriter for the reason the surrounding keys and' lying flush with the that the. operative stroke of each key is usually other keys in the same longitudinal row. the leas than in the manually operated vtypewriter keys in one row overlapping in a'vertical plane and therefore lends itself to the purpose of this the keys in the adjacent rows. v 55 invention, 4although the principle may be suce' y cessfully applied to manually operated type- Y RlLXli'Ol'tD U. JENNINGS.

writers as well. 

